Multi-chamber vacuum cleaner dusting attachment with independent adjustable accordion hose

• US 10,631,696 B1
• Filed: 03/06/2017
• Issued: 04/28/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kathleen J. Williamson
• Original Assignee: Kathleen J. Williamson
• Inventors: Williamson, Kathleen J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Redding, David
• Application Number:
  US15/451,192
• Time in Patent Office: 1,149 Days
• Field of Search: 15324, 15396, 154151-4221
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0673 with removable brushes, combs, lips or pads
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0686 Nozzles with cleaning cloths, e.g. using disposal fabrics for covering the nozzle
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0693 Specially shaped nozzles, e.g. for cleaning radiators, tubes, fans or the like; Dusters
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/24 Hoses or pipes; Hose or pipe couplings hoses or hose joints in general F16L
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/242 Hose or pipe couplings
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/244 for telescopic or extensible hoses or pipes
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2857 User input or output elements for control, e.g. buttons, switches or displays
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/30 Arrangement of illuminating devices
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/327 for suction cleaners with hose between nozzle and casing

Abstract

A vacuum dusting attachment including a semi-flexible, elongated, thin, flat cleaning portion for tight spaces having multiple dust collecting chambers and aperture openings for equalizing and maximizing vacuum suction, light elements for improving visual efficiency, side edge brushes for loosening dust and increased dust capture, and a detachable, microfiber mesh cover for the cleaning portion for dust capture and retention; and a connected swivel handle portion including an ergonomically designed cushioned hand portion with soft raised ridges and bumps for non-slippage. An additional independent accordion hose extension vacuum attachment for use with aforesaid dusting attachment or other devices is provided, manufactured to withstand vacuum suction so as to retain desired lengths and bends to reach distant target areas, increasing flexibility when handling an attached dusting attachment, while collapsing for less space, and including a grip disk at one end, and an ergonomic handle on an opposite end, both for handling while in the act of extending, collapsing, and bending.

Claims

1. A dusting attachment for a vacuum cleaner comprising:

a handle portion including an ergonomic hand grip, and

a cleaning portion including a neck portion and a dust collecting housing,

said handle portion connectible on one end to a suction hose for the vacuum cleaner and connected on another end to the neck portion, and an interior suction channel extending within the handle portion and neck portion in which a suction force may be generated by the vacuum cleaner,

said dust collecting housing having an elongated flattened shape defined by a top wall, a bottom wall, opposite side walls and an outer end wall connecting between and defining a narrow width between the top and bottom walls, and an inner end connected to the neck portion,

an upper chamber vent and a lower chamber vent each formed in the top wall of the dust collecting housing along the longitudinal axis of the housing, the upper chamber vent positioned between the inner end, opposite side walls and a partition extending laterally between the opposite side walls spaced from the end wall, and the lower chamber vent positioned adjacent the upper chamber vent between the outer end, opposite side walls, and lateral partition, and

an upper chamber air flow channel connecting between the upper chamber vent and the suction channel in the neck portion, and a lower chamber air flow channel connecting separately between the lower vacuum chamber vent and the suction channel in the neck portion, wherein a substantially equalized suction force is provided in the upper and lower chamber vents, said upper and lower chamber vents comprising at least 60% of the top wall total surface area.

2. The vacuum cleaner dusting attachment of claim 1 additionally comprising another separate air flow channel formed in the dust collecting housing extending around the periphery of the upper and lower chamber vents and having ends which are open towards and in air communication with the suction channel in the neck portion, and a plurality of small spaced apart apertures extending between an outer surface of the housing and the peripherally located air flow channel.

3. The vacuum cleaner dusting attachment of claim 2 additionally comprising a slip-on cover securable over the flat dust collecting housing, said cover including a microfiber mesh portion positioned to extend over the upper and lower chamber vents and apertures in the peripheral air flow channel and having openings between the mesh large enough to allow dust to pass into the upper and lower chamber vents and peripheral air flow channel while preventing particles and objects larger than said openings from passing.

4. The vacuum cleaner dusting attachment of claim 1 additionally comprising a horizontal vane provided in the flat dust collecting housing connecting between the opposite side walls from the lateral partition towards the neck portion and spaced from the top and bottom walls.

5. The vacuum cleaner dusting attachment of claim 1 in which the handle portion is swivelably connected to the cleaning portion.

6. The vacuum cleaner dusting attachment of claim 1 in which the handle portion is detachably connected to the cleaning portion.

7. The vacuum cleaner dusting attachment of claim 1 in which the handle portion and cleaning portion are of a unitary construction.

8. The vacuum cleaner dusting attachment of claim 2 additionally comprising a plurality of light elements mounted on the dust collecting housing of the cleaning portion.

9. The vacuum cleaner dusting attachment of claim 8 in which light elements are mounted in apertures in one or more of the side and end walls of the dust collecting housing and are operably connected to a power source positioned in the neck portion.

10. The vacuum cleaner dusting attachment of claim 1 in which the hand grip is coated with a cushioning material including a plurality of ridges and raised bumps so as to provide an improved gripping surface.

11. The vacuum cleaner dusting attachment of claim 2 additionally comprising a plurality of bristle clusters affixed directly to the flat dust collecting housing around the perimeter of said housing.

12. The vacuum cleaner dusting attachment of claim 3 in which a surface of the slip-on cover positioned over the bottom wall of the dusting housing is made of a solid microfiber material.

13. The vacuum cleaner dusting attachment of claim 1 additionally comprising a vacuum hose attachment device which is securable to the handle portion of the dusting attachment, said vacuum hose attachment device including an accordion hose portion having bendable bellow-type walls which retain the hose portion in a selected expanded or collapsed length and angle, at least one outwardly projecting disk grip positioned adjacent an end of the accordion hose portion, and a coupling for connecting multiple hose portions end-to-end or to said handle portion.

14. The vacuum cleaner dusting attachment of claim 13 in which the vacuum hose attachment device additionally comprises an integral handle portion connected to the accordion hose portion on an end opposite the disk grip.

15. The vacuum cleaner dusting attachment of claim 13 in which a disk grip is provided on opposite sides of the accordion hose portion.

16. The vacuum cleaner dusting attachment of claim 6 additionally comprising an ergonomic hand grip coupler for alternatively connecting one or more modified vacuum hose attachment extension devices and modified neck portions directly to the modified neck portion of the dusting attachment.

17. A dusting attachment for a vacuum cleaner comprising:

a handle portion; and

a cleaning portion,

wherein, the handle portion comprises a vacuum cleaner hose connecting end, a cleaning portion connecting end, and an internal air flow passageway extending through the handle portion between the vacuum cleaner hose connecting end and cleaning portion connecting end; and

wherein, the cleaning portion comprises a neck portion and a dust collecting housing, said neck portion connected on one end to the cleaning portion connecting end of the handle portion and on another end to the dust collecting housing, and an internal air flow passageway extending through the neck portion between the handle portion connecting end and dust collecting housing connecting end,

said dust collecting housing having a distal end, a proximal end, and a flattened, elongated body, and including at least a first large suction vent aperture formed in a top wall of the dust collecting housing extending from the proximal end of the housing, and a second large suction vent aperture also formed in the top wall extending from the distal end of the housing, said first and second apertures comprising a major portion of the top wall, and separate air flow chambers connecting between the air flow passageway in the neck portion and the first and second vent apertures.

18. The dusting attachment of claim 17 in which the dust collecting housing additionally comprises a peripheral suction chamber extending around the first and second vents, said peripheral suction chamber including a plurality of spaced apart small vent openings connecting to an outer surface of the dust collecting housing.

19. The dusting attachment of claim 18 in which the flattened dust collecting housing has a length of about 5.5 inches, a width of about 3 inches, and a thickness of about 7/16 inches, and the first and second vent apertures have a length and width of about 2.25 inches.

20. The dusting attachment of claim 17 additionally comprising a microfiber sock-like mesh cover which is securable over the flat dust collecting housing with a microfiber mesh portion positioned over the first and second vents to prevent large debris from entering the vents, said microfiber attracting and retaining at least some of said debris for subsequent disposal.